"Endgame: OOC Planning Discussion"

[shaidar]

Yeah, that sounds right to me.

I guess we ought to mark what are preferred grenade areas are so the Frank knows where to avoid.

Accuracy isn't hugely important, and we don't want to get those heaps to close to the left. But I think it'll be fine.

[shaidar]

Although I do wonder if we move simultaneously to the heap grenades or immediately after.

[Leitz]

Smoke works both directions. I'm not sure what capabilities Freya's drone has, but if it could feed an aerial view of the enemy it would give us a serious advantage.

[shaidar]

The smoke will be down the south end, it's really just to distract them and think we're doing something from those doors to distract their fire for Jakob/Frank.

Getting a feed from the drone is good though. We have been getting one so far, so that can continue, hopefully.

[The Bindoner]

With regard to whether we get involved in saving the Baron, Jess’ attitude is summed up in the video clip in the earlier post.

However, these Ine Givar chaps shot Baker and tried to shoot Prerna. We have no option other than to defeat them and thwart their plans.

[shaidar]

Absolutely re the Baron. They were warned what would happen if they broke the ceasefire and put us in danger. Now it's personal and a matter of vengeance unit honour. Can't let people try to kill us and get away with it.

I'm still wondering why they want the Baron. The deal has been signed to sell the place to SuSAG, so maybe it's just revenge. Although why the Outworld Alliance would get involved in that still elludes me, particularly with a fighter flyover and ships in orbit. Maybe it's just a single finger salute to the Imperium, but that doesn't sound like a Tiglath storyline to me

Also, if we have Baron and they want him then that's a bargaining chip, plus Vitt and also Duran (The Shore is linked to 4DC and Patch). OK, maybe Vitt not so much.

This is why Frank really wants to speak to Erica. Hopefully she can cast some light on this, she appears to have been as caught out by this as us.

[Leitz]

Jakob's enroute, no "philosophical reason to shoot people" needed.

[Tiglath]

Smoke works both directions. I'm not sure what capabilities Freya's drone has, but if it could feed an aerial view of the enemy it would give us a serious advantage.

It can currently give you a bird's eye / top down view at the moment as Freya's flying it outside to look down through the glass roof.

This is very safe but is why it can't see under the balconies.

Flying it indoors would facilitate that but puts the expensive thing at hazard.

Showing my working: It has not given you "everything" as it is being used as a sensor platform in an environment where its sensors aren't optimal and LOS is as restricted vertically as much as horizontally (more to the things you want to see). Also as a Scout Freya is more likely to be better at "Survey" than "Recon" so its a mater of interpreting what is seen too. However, having said that the plots for enemy, their LOS, etc will have all come from your "eye in the sky" and fed into the Battle Computer. When/If folk break cover you'll have the whole enchilada!

[Leitz]

Yup, their weapon discharge should give us good info, and the drone may catch things that we miss.

Now, let's see if Jakob survives his idea.

[BackworldTraveller]

Also as a Scout Freya is more likely to be better at "Survey" than "Recon" so its a mater of interpreting what is seen too. However, having said that the plots for enemy, their LOS, etc will have all come from your "eye in the sky" and fed into the Battle Computer.

The Recon is what you do when you have been handed a Survey and haven't a clue where to start!

Not to be confused with the reckoning: when you finish the Survey and the politicians don't like what it says.

[Leitz]

If Jakob has First Squad, he may have enough for the NE door assault.

[shaidar]

I think the following would be available to Jakob:

Nuts
Caxton
Oscar
Love (injured, should likely stay behind and help guard)
George
Route One
Johnny
Harry (also injured, I believe)

Voss and Dubbs are looking after HQ.

We need to leave a skeleton crew to guard the Dips and pirate prisoners (who have been told they will be shot if they attack or try to escape)

Beau is currently with Frank and Jess in the garden, but we could send him over.

[shaidar]

Caxton, Oscar, Love and Harry could stay behind with Voss and Dubbs to guard, if that will be enough. Pretty much leaves Jakob's team available.

[Tiglath]

Absolutely re the Baron. They were warned what would happen if they broke the ceasefire and put us in danger. Now it's personal and a matter of vengeance unit honour. Can't let people try to kill us and get away with it.

I'm still wondering why they want the Baron. The deal has been signed to sell the place to SuSAG, so maybe it's just revenge. Although why the Outworld Alliance would get involved in that still elludes me, particularly with a fighter flyover and ships in orbit. Maybe it's just a single finger salute to the Imperium, but that doesn't sound like a Tiglath storyline to me

Also, if we have Baron and they want him then that's a bargaining chip, plus Vitt and also Duran (The Shore is linked to 4DC and Patch). OK, maybe Vitt not so much.

This is why Frank really wants to speak to Erica. Hopefully she can cast some light on this, she appears to have been as caught out by this as us.

The political situation is both "fluid" and "complex".

I'll add some "illumination" - as much as I can at this stage...

Your ceasefire was with Erica's "Einherjaren" who you haven't encountered (you'd know if you had). However, the "insurgents" do seem to be in breach of the ceasefire which perhaps they'd be expected to support. it does seem that they've gone "off script". They are "terrorists" per se and so very much after regime change - but perhaps on their own terms? The trouble with regime change is the totem pole gets rearranged and someone always ends up on the bottom...

Also, there's that commentary hiding in plain sight below the Political Map:

download/file.php?id=20555

"The Imperium extends its influence to embrace Collace and the Trailing space behind it. This makes the "now border worlds" of Tarsus, Avastan and Pavabid the new political battlefield.

Inchin tries to restore its diplomatic ties with its neighbours and the Imperium. Avastan Portways Inc maintain a light infantry battalion on their world and appear to enjoy tacit Imperial backing despite rumours of pirate activity centred on the planet. Pavabid maintains neutrality due to its extreme religious convictions. Tarsus also robustly holds to its independence no doubt aided by its membership of the Ag Worlds Combine cartel of "bread basket worlds" (including Motmos and Tarkine) who threaten a complete embargo against any aggressor.

The Trexalon Technical Consortium owns the deep mineral deposits of Kuai Qing and has possessions on Ochecate. They have not only the backing of the Outworld Coalition (and active support of the Sword Worlds) but also those who would not wish to see Imperial trade restrictions curb the "free enterprise" currently enjoyed by Corporations beyond her borders in District 268".

"Good business" is always a persuasive political argument on its own. However, it is especially so when it and politics align...

[gurusql]

I understand, and because you offered...

How about one of Charlie/Baker/Mike/King move to the left to support Jess in the bottom left door? If Jess is happy to look after our troops in the southern doors then Frank and Kit could go around and come in the SW door, right next to SPA guy, who has no line of sight for that door. The laser has limited LOS and the grenadier has a little, but they'll be distracted by smoke grenades and Jakobs team, and we can stick to foliage cover as much as possible. A quick RAM HEAP grenade to the Spa should sort that problem out.

Gurusql, are you happy with Kit helping out Frank? Frank would go first, he does have combat armour. Or at least open doors and stay safe in the lift while Frank engages? Whichever you feel comfortable with.

Red line marked on the following map (we can now ignore the blue line)

I am armored as well (thanks to you) - we can both engage

[shaidar]

Frank told Erica to tell her boss that the SEMC would defend themselves if they were threatened by them, this was during the ceasefire discussion. They made it clear they didn't follow normal engagement rules when they attacked the ambulance. So not upholding the ceasefire isn't a surprise, or perhaps they just don't think it applies to them - only to Erica's people, but useful to them to get us to backoff for a while until they're ready.

Revisiting the posted political information, maybe they've decided that SuSAG being in charge is still too much of an imperial solution, so the only answer is to put an Alliance person in charge of Inchin. The simplest answers are usually the best.

[Tiglath]

Caxton, Oscar, Love and Harry could stay behind with Voss and Dubbs to guard, if that will be enough. Pretty much leaves Jakob's team available.

The VIPs (now armed and alert) have a significant capacity for self defence.

The twins, the Aslan delegates and Messrs Wint and Kidd amount to an HQ defence squad or yet another "Green Force" depending on your view!

[gurusql]

Kit's point of view on saving the Baron, is it his best way to get paid for his current ticket if the Baron is alive. He says best chance because Kit thinks that the Baron is financially overextended and wonders if that overextension has let him to making some shady deals which is potentially part of the problem here. Not a lot of facts, and a lot of speculation on my part.

[shaidar]

Ding Ding Ding...

SUSAG is willing to pay millions for Inchin.

The Coalition takes over Inchin from the Baron by force.

They then renegotiate the deal with SuSAG, perhaps resulting in a Coalition overwatch to make sure the Imperium doesn't take it at some point in the future, plus they get millions to pay for their 'terrorist' activities, and a bunch of happy workers. Win Win Win.

[Tiglath]

SUSAG is willing to pay millions for Inchin.

If they control Inchin for its apparent mineral wealth they are happy.

They are also an Imperial Mega Corporation and require non Imperial territory to produce psi drugs (to supply the Marches). The Imperial "salient" into 268 is not good for business.

Unlike simply taking what you would otherwise have to pay for - which is excellent business...

No one's asked much about McClellan Factors... They have a reputation as "robust" business folk / a ruthless Corporation having just concluded a trade war (with some real shooting) to drive their competition out of business. If you want to know more their nearest offices are on Trexalon.

The Coalition takes over Inchin from the Baron by force.

Of course, it might look like that but once things are properly explained...

And on the political map Inchin flips to independant "Green" (ahem, Out World Coalition ) and a planet sized spanner (with a promised A class up port) drops into the Imperium's expansionist link Spinward ("west") towards Five Sisters.

From a purely strategic military point of view the planet "Inchin prime" is indefensible and valueless compared to the Inchin system which has three gas giants and to a Naval planner would be a "fuel stop".